The Former Emperor
- Gender
- Male
Summary
Born to a low-ranking concubine who had previously served as a palace woman, The Former Emperor was noted for his extreme beauty even in childhood, a trait that likely subjected him to abuse from other concubines as he matured. Although he was the youngest son, he ascended to the throne only after a plague claimed the lives of his elder brothers. Recognizing that her son lacked the capability or desire to rule, his mother immediately seized control, reducing him to a puppet emperor while she effectively governed the nation. She maintained her dominance by browbeating him into submission, a dynamic that instilled a pathological terror of adult women within him. This fear caused him to become hysterical at the mere touch of a grown woman, leading him to develop an attraction exclusively to little girls, the only female demographic over whom he could exert any power. He selected only young children as his consorts and concubines; once they became pregnant or aged beyond his preferences, they were locked away and discarded, never permitted to leave the Rear Palace. Such behavior rendered him universally reviled by both the court and the populace.
